Protect rhinos from poaching

Just a couple weeks ago, Blank Park Zoo proudly welcomed two new eastern black rhinos to our family in preparation for our new Connection to Africa exhibit opening – Jaama Kwa – next spring.

The male rhino, Kiano, weighs just over 1,000 pounds

The female rhino, Ayana, weighs about 1,900 pounds

It’s amazing how something so massive can be so adorable.

Born in October 2010, Kiano came from the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Ayana, born August 2010, came from Zoo Miami in Florida. The rhinos are part of a breeding program called a species survival plan (SSP). This program’s goal is to maintain a sustainable population of black rhinos in zoos – and Blank Park Zoo hopes Ayana and Kiano will breed when they become mature.

According to the International Rhino Foundation, there are less than 5,000 black rhinos left in the wild and less than 30,000 of all species of rhinos.

In fact, one rhino is lost every 13.4 hours due to poaching – the rhinos’ horns are taken as part of an international black market trade.

The International Rhino Foundation works tirelessly to protect rhinos around the world from poaching – and Blank Park Zoo helps financially support their efforts.

With a gift to Blank Park Zoo, you can help protect rhinos, too! Your generous, year-end gift will conserve and protect rhinos around the world.

And, thanks to generous donors Bob and Gloria Burnett, your gift will be doubled as they match every gift dollar for dollar up to $25,000!

To donate, click here and select option number one – 2012 Year End Burnett Matching Campaign.